Tim Westwood advises kids to stay at home and off the street

Hip hop veteran Tim Westwood has asked the nations youth to never get involved in rioting and to stay at home at night time.

A former Sony and MOBO award-winner, Westwood is one of the most recognised and influential urban music DJ's of the decade and is regarded as a pioneer of the UK hip hop scene.

He has always been popular with the youth and even led a safe sex campaign with Durex in which he had his own branded condoms.

Tim exclusively told the London Evening Standard that youngsters should: "Stay at home at night. Don't be running around on these streets, just stay at home. That's my advice, stay at home."

The platinum selling DJ added: "Stay out of trouble, even if your just there as a bystander watching other people being stupid, just stay home because you will get dragged into it."

Tim, who has presented the Westwood show on BBC Radio 1Xtra each weekday since September 2009 and a specialist hip hop show on BBC Radio 1 every Saturday, says that he is too busy with work to get involved with the 'nonsense'.

"I'm a geek when it comes to work, I love working, that's my life. I'm busy all the time so I just love working."

On top of his broadcasting work, Westwood is a popular club DJ who plays to huge crowds across Europe and has a massive celebrity fan base - from 50 Cent to Eminem.

He has also presented Pimp My Ride UK, which is the most successful MTV UK production of all time and the second highest rated show in the history of MTV Europe.

With over 25 years in the industry Tim has realised that his fashion style has changed with the times.

He said: "I was wearing hip hop clothes which were always baggy and I've really come in tighter with these shirts now. Hip hop is more slim fitting now and I'm more slim fit wearing now too since I've been hitting the gym."

You can listen to Tim Westwood on BBC Radio 1Xtra Mondays-Thursdays (4pm-7pm) and Saturdays (9pm-11pm)